Lancaster County has its five school superintendent finalists. Here’s more about them
The Lancaster County School District is down to five finalists for its next superintendent.
Those candidates will meet with the community and staff in September. Dates and times will be announced later. One of the candidates will lead the district following the retirement of current Superintendent Jonathan Phipps.
“We are pleased with all of the finalists, and we look forward to the next phase in the search process,” School Board Chair Brad Small said in announcing the list of five administrators.
Remaining choices for superintendent are Heath Branham, Raashad Fitzpatrick, Kathie Greer, Matthew Hayes and Paul Spadaro. The Lancaster County district released information on each ahead of final interviews and public meetings.
Heath Branham
The Centerville Elementary School principal in Lexington County School District One, Branham was previously director of academic operations for Hobsons-Naviance Advantage and executive vice president of academic operations for Wake Forest Advantage. Branham was national executive director of school improvement for all EdinsonLearning schools and a senior vice president for the program in South Carolina.
Branham was director of elementary schools in Lexington School District One and instructional evaluation coordinator for the Newberry County School District. A host of principal, assistant principal and teaching positions on the resume, Branham anticipates a doctorate degree in educational leadership in spring 2025.
Raashad Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick is assistant to the superintendent and district ombudsman for Greenville County Schools. Past roles include principal at Gaffney High School and Carver Middle School, plus assistant principal at Spartanburg High School and Whitlock Jr. High School. Fitzpatrick also taught and coached at Chesnee High School.
Fitzpatrick earned a doctorate in educational leadership from South Carolina State University.
Kathie Greer
Greer is director of alternative education for Greenville County Schools. A national certified consultant coach with the National Dropout Prevention Center and Successful Practices Network, Greer served as director of adult and community education for Lexington School District Five.
Greer was principal specialist at C.A. Johnson High School and principal of both A.C. Flora High School and Chester Senior High School. Greer was director of communities and schools for the Rock Hill School District and a psychologist for the state department of mental health.
The Winthrop University graduate has a doctorate in educational administration from the University of South Carolina.
Matthew Hayes
Hayes is an educational consultant in Charlotte, since retiring from a deputy superintendent role with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
Hayes was principal at North Mecklenburg High School and the School of International Studies and Global Economics at Olympic. Hayes also has assistant principal, teaching and coaching roles on the resume. Hayes earned a doctorate in educational leadership from Wingate University.
Paul Spadaro
Spadaro is assistant superintendent for Greenwood School District 52. Past work includes principal at Langley-Bath-Clearwater Middle School and assistant principal for St. James Middle and Forestbrook Middle schools.
Spadaro taught in Marion County schools and holds several degrees, including education leadership and doctorate in philosophy degrees from Coastal Carolina University.
